The End Zone: Michigan 09-23

Rich Rodriguez planned to speak with his defensive players for 15 or 20 minutes Monday, and it wasn't to crack jokes about this week's opponent, Bowling Green, choosing a Miley Cyrus hit as its theme song for the season. True story. The Falcons have admitted to bouncing around to “Party in the USA,” since training camp.

Surely there wasn't much of a party going on in the meeting room when Rodriguez, who generally is hands off regarding defensive matters, walked in. That side of the ball has been atrocious for three years now, and one could argue they've never played as badly as they did last week when they were tortured by I-AA Massachusetts.

Rodriguez knows his offense is close, perhaps a few weeks away, from being very powerful. But he sees a defense that can't tackle and he sees special teams units that make gaffes typically only seen in games played between MAC teams, and he must be wondering whether it's wishful thinking to believe everything might soon snap into place. The reality is, there is no choice. Change must occur, and it must occur now.

The offense has boarded the plane, buckled up, and made sure to bring its seat back to an upright position. But their defensive teammates are rummaging through overheard compartments searching for their headphones. It's time for them to get situated and allow this plane to take off.